Patent Application
20080052354
The subject regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
The detailed description explains an exemplary embodiment of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawing.
Referring to
Starting at step 100, an instant message meeting is initiated by a moderator. Subsequently, at step 110, an invitation is sent to an invitee to join the meeting. The invitation includes at least one of the following forms of information chosen to be displayed by the moderator; (i) the participants' names, (ii) the length of time of the chat, (iii) the chat history, and (iiii) whether the meeting is in lock-down mode. Then at step 120, a menu having check boxes is displayed to the invitee. The check boxes allow the invitee to request additional information about the IM meeting.
The moderator views the menu with the check boxes prior to the invitees viewing the menu when the IM is initiated. The moderator selects particular check boxes that correspond to particular information that the moderator wants displayed to the participants of the IM, as shown in
When the moderator does not by default display: (i) the participants' name, (ii) the length of time of the chat, (iii) the chat history, and (iiii) whether the meeting is in lock-down mode, the invitee may select via a check box on the menu the option of including anyone or all of this information, as shown in
The chat history is identifiable by at least one of the following: (i) being represented by icons, and (ii) being color coded, to allow the invitee to distinctly keep track of the flow of conversation during the meeting. Furthermore, the chat history forwarded to the invitees from the moderator may be a selected subset of the total history that the moderator finds relevant.
The invitee may also optionally select via a check box on the menu the option of including information regarding who accepted and declined the invitation. Additionally, the invitee may select via a checkbox on the menu the option of including information regarding the time limit scheduled for the meeting. The invitee may also select via a check box on the menu the option of including information regarding what participants of the meeting are on-line and how long the participants have been on-line chatting. Furthermore, the invitee may also select via a check box on the menu the option of including information regarding what invitees have previously departed the meeting and what invitees have not joined the meeting.
The moderator is granted permission to open the meeting to others provided all the invitees agree to such an action. The moderator is also granted permission to display and as well as not to display the chat history. Additionally, the moderator is granted permission to lock the meeting such that only current participants may join the meeting until the lock condition is removed by the moderator. Furthermore, the moderator may release the invitee from the IM meeting one the invitee's information to the IM meeting has been imparted. This functionality gives the moderator security by knowing what invitees are involved in the IM meeting at any particular time.
While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.
